Olivia Twist(35)

As the Seeker yelled, “Stop,” and the guests froze in their hiding spots, Jack grasped Olivia’s gloved arm, opened the side entrance and forced her through, the call of “Blindman’s . . .” cutting off as he closed the door behind them.

“What are you doing?” Olivia hissed, attempting to pull herself from his grip.

But he was not letting go until he’d had his say. Pushing open the first door they came to, he guided her into the room and released her long enough to turn the key and drop it into his pocket.

“Jack! This is highly inappropriate.”

He leaned back against the closed door, crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. Details began to emerge, and it became clear they were in a water closet.

Olivia stood in the middle of the cramped room, her arms stick straight, hands clenched at her sides. He pushed off the door and advanced toward her. “Then perhaps next time you won’t ignore my requests for a meeting.”

“Give me one honest reason why I shouldn’t scream.” She propped her fists on her tiny waist and leaned forward. “Besides the fact that you’re an arrogant prat who expects women to fall at his feet!”

“I may be arrogant, but you’ve been lying to me since the day we met. What right do you have to an honest response from me?” In two paces, he towered over her. “I thought we were friends.”

“Friends are just enemies in disguise. You said that to me once, but I was too naive to know you were referring to yourself.” She poked him hard in the chest. “We ceased being friends the day you deserted me so I’d take the fall for your crime. Dodger.” She sneered his old name like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

He stepped back and shoved a hand through his hair.

So that’s what this was all about. She thought he’d betrayed her to the coppers that ancient day, and she still didn’t trust him. That’s why she hadn’t responded to his notes or requests for a meeting. Buying time, he walked past her and opened the drapes, flooding the small space with moonlight.

When he turned, Olivia’s eyes burned with gold fire, her hair glistening with flecks of starlight. And a long-buried memory struck him like a physical blow: The night he’d escaped from his mother, he had run until his legs refused to take him another inch. Lost and alone, he’d looked up into the glowing eyes of a stained glass angel, beckoning to him, offering shelter. He snuck into the church and curled up on a pew under her watchful gaze. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Until now.

“Well?” she demanded.

Jack realized he’d been staring at her in silence for several moments. With a sigh, he glanced down at his boots. It was time to come clean. “I’m no bloody hero.”

“Clearly.”

He raised his head and met her gaze. “But I did not abandon you that day.”



Olivia glared at Jack’s heart-stoppingly gorgeous face and thought this must be what it felt like to be tempted by the devil. He stepped toward her, and the moonlight caught in his eyes, making them appear to glow an unearthly blue. His raven hair fell across his forehead, bringing back memories of the boy he had been. A boy she had trusted with her life. Part of her longed to hear him out, but he would just wrap her up in lies, as he always had.

“I have to go.” She extended her hand. “Give me the key.”

“Oll—I don’t even know what to call you!” His left thumb rubbed across the pads of his fingers, betraying the vulnerability he tried so hard to hide.

But Olivia wasn’t ready to make amends. “I’m Olivia. I might pretend to be a boy at times, but underneath I’ve always been a girl.”

“I know what you are—who you are.” He swallowed, the muscles in his broad throat constricting as he took another step. “But I swear I didn’t abandon you.”

Olivia closed her hand in a fist and dropped it to her side. “I saw you! After the copper caught me, you met my gaze and I knew I was saved. But then you turned tail and ran without a backward glance!”

“But you were saved . . . Your uncle—”

“You know that now—”

“Let me bloody well finish!” He reached for her, but then seemed to change his mind and shoved the hair off his forehead instead. “I wasn’t familiar with the courthouses in that part of the city. So after they carted you away, I followed at a distance. I knew I couldn’t help you if we were both pinched. I also knew my priors would ensure my own death sentence. I’d hoped with your youth and no prior record . . .”

He stared out the window a moment, lost in thought.

“Once I saw where they took you, I found that toff we robbed—your uncle—and gave him back his wallet, then led him to the courthouse. I stuck around until I knew he’d saved you from the drop, and then I ran before they could pin the crime on me.”

“Why didn’t you come find me after?”

“I did.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I spied on the town-house for days. After I got my quota for the day, I’d sneak over to Kensington and hide in the park across the street. I wanted to check on you, at least speak to you once. But your uncle found me and convinced me you’d be better off with a clean break.”

Olivia stood frozen to the spot. His story didn’t add up. Why would her uncle never mention getting his wallet back or tell her he’d spoken to Jack?